Toaster-oven

ABSTRACT

A toaster-oven comprising a plurality of readily releasable components including a chassis component, an end panel component and four heating element components. The chassis component comprises a common heating chamber which, having unique venting of the toasting thermostat, receives a vertically positioned, food supporting carriage movable therein in a toast mode from food receiving position to food toasting position and which receives a grill component in horizontal position movable therein in an oven mode from food receiving position to food cooking position. The heating element components are related to the reflecting surfaces of the common heating chamber so that, in conjunction with modulation of the power input to certain of the element components, effective cooking in both the toast and oven modes of operation is obtained. Thus, a readily serviceable and effective multipurpose appliance is disclosed.

United States Patent Eaton, Jr. et al.

[54] TOASTER-OVEN [7 21 Inventors: John L. Eaton, Jr., Delanco, N.J.;Kenneth L. Richard, Newton Square; Walter M.

Schwartz, Jr., Philadelphia, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Proctor-Silex Incorporated, Philadelphia,

221 Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 60,468

52 mo. ..99/ss1,99/339,99/391,

99/393, 99/401, 219/520 51 in. C1. ..A47j27/62 5s FieldotSearch..99/4o1,327,329,334-33s,

1 51 June 13, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins AssistantExaminer-Arthur 0. Henderson Anomey-Robert S. Vermut ABSTRACT Atoaster-oven comprising a plurality of readily releasable componentsincluding a chassis component, an end panel component and four heatingelement components. The chassis component comprises a common heatingchamber which, having unique venting of the toasting thermostat,receives a vertically positioned, food supporting carriage movabletherein in a toast mode from food receiving position to food toastingposition and which receives a grill component in horizontal positionmovable therein in an oven mode from food receiving position to foodcooking position. The heating element components are related to thereflecting surfaces of the common heating chamber so that, inconjunction with modulation of the power input to certain of the elementcomponents, effective cooking in both the toast and oven modes ofoperation is obtained. Thus, a readily serviceable and effectivemultipurpose appliance is disclosed.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 13 1972 SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 2

PATENTEDJUN 13 m2 3.669.004

SHEET 2 OF 2 %z ill I INVENTORS 45 48 John L. Eaton Jr.

Kenneth L. Richard FIG. 7 Walter M. Schwor1z,dr.

BY 13 W ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to the field of heating appliances and, moreparticularly, to the field of combination food toasting and cookingappliances. 1 1

2. Description of the Prior Art The toaster and oven arts are,individually, very crowded. Attempts have been made to relate'the twoarts because of the substantial, analogous structure involved in each.Examples of such attempts are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,368,440, issuedJan. 30, 1945; U.S. Pat. No. 2,465,577, issued Mar. 29, 1949; U.S. Pat.No. 2,862,441, issued Dec. 2, I958; and US. Pat. No. 2,912,922, issuedNov. 17, 1959. These patents all relate in broad analogy to the presentinvention indisclosing a vertical toast and horizontal oven combinationappliance. However, none of the prior art patents has shown the readilyreleasable componentsof the present invention nor the interrelationshipof toasting and cooking modes and the structure which gives risethereto.

With respect to the ready release of components, U. S. Patent. No.3,483,814, issued Dec. 16, 1969 to the same assignee as the presentinvention, is of interest. This patent discloses a plurality ofcomponents which may be interconnected in varying ways to arrive at atoaster which may be readily assembled and disassembled for servicingand cleaning. Certain of the features of the toaster construction shownby the latter patent have been incorporated in the preferred embodimentto be. described in detail hereinafter, and this patent will, therefore,be incorporated herein by reference when discussing'those certainfeatures. However, this patent does not anticipate a combination ofvertical toasting and horizontal cooking modes nor the interrelationshipof structure which facilitates such combination and renders it feasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 isaperspective view of a toaster-oven embodying the present'invention;

FIG. 2 is a right end view of the chassis component broken away in part;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, cross-sectioned in part, of one of the leftend panel heating element sockets and its flexible support;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of one of the right end panel heatingelement sockets and its rigid support;

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation ,view of the venting door and itsactuator; v

FIG. .6 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuitry of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is an elevation view, broken away and cross-sectioned in part, ofa heating element component of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present inventionincorporates herein by reference the disclosures of the followingpatents: U.S. Patent No. 2,796,492, issued June 18, I957 to J. .l.Lawser for Adjustable Thermostatic Control Mechanism; U.S. Pat. No.2,951,432, issued Sept. 6, 1960 to J. J. Lawser for Bread Toaster; U.S.Pat. No. 3,035,509, issued May 22, 1962 to J. J. Lawser for BreadToaster; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,814, issued Dec. 16, 1969 to W. M.Schwartz, Jr., et al for Bread Toaster.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing with reference numerals,in FIG. I, a toaster-oven embodying the present invention is generallyindicated at 1. The toaster-oven basically comprises a chassis component2, preferably made of chrome plated cold rolled steel, a right end panelcomponent 3 and a left end panel 4 with the panel 3 readilyremovablefrom the' component 2 and the panel 4 substantially fixed to thecomponent 2. Both end panels, preferably made of molded phenolic,together include the basic electrical circuitry of the toaster-oven.Thus, the panel 4 includes the oven thermostat control generallydesignated at 5 and the right panel 3 includes the toast thermostatcontrol and oven on and off switch generally designated at 6.

The toaster-oven l is generally trapezoidal in cross-sectionalconfiguration and includes upper wall 7 having the vertical toastingslot 8, end walls and 10, rear wall 1 1, and front wall portions l2, 13,14 and 15. The front wall portion 13, as can be seen in FIG. 1, includeswindow 16, preferably made of a rigid, high temperature transparentmaterial, and also acts as a door having handle 17 to permit access tothe internal heating chamber defined in part by certain of the wallspreviously mentioned.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the periphery of the chassis component 2includes rebent portion 67 on both ends for abutment of the end panels.In addition, the rebent portion 67 of the right end as shown in FIG. 2includes a cutaway 18 which acts as one point of a three point latchingsystem for the right end panel 3. The other two points are shown at Hand 20 respectively. It should be noted, however, that this latchingrelationship of right end panel component -3.to chassis com ponent 2 isnot a part of the present invention and may be as more specificallyshown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,483,814, previ ously incorporated herein byreference.

The chassis component includes a toasting function including the slot 8in its upper wall, carriage actuator slot 21 and carriage support 22 forconventional vertical food carriage means, not shown. Again, theinterrelationship of the right end panel component 3 with the chassiscomponent 2'with respect to movement of support 22 is shown morespecifically in U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,814. As is conventional in toasters,the chassis component 2 includes a thermostat assembly with pusher 23which, upon temperature responsive, biasing contact with contact 24moving it to a closed circuit position, actuates an electromagneticcarriage release mechanism as more specifically described in U. S. Pat.No.'2,95l,432, previously incorporated herein by reference. 7 I

Front wall portion 13 which acts as a door is mechanically connected tothe chassis component 2 by linkages at both ends including linkages 25which are pivotally connected to linkages 26. Linkages 26 have end pins30 integral therewith and slidably movable in slots 27 formed in the endwalls 28 of the chassis component, and the pins 30 are intended toproject into the interior of the chassis component to releasably relateto a horizontal food carriage means or grill component, not shown, tomove the grill component inwardly and outwardly in relation to theposition of the wall or door 13. The grill component is intended to besupported in its sliding movement by coplanar shelves 31 secured to theinner side of each of the end walls 28.

wall 28 by hinge pin 35 and has a projecting tab 36 which extendsthrough an opening 37 in end wall 28 and passes through a slo't'inactuator 38. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, the actuator 38, preferably madeof spring metal, is biased outwardly and downwardly from the wall 28and, upon downward vertical mo'vementof the. carriage support 22 intotoasting position or control 6 to oven on" position moves inwardly torotate the trap door 34 to close the opening 33.

Although not forming a part of the present invention, the thermostatassembly for the toasting operation may include a calibrating adjustment39, and shielding arrangement, not shown, which ismore specificallydisclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,035,509 previously incorporated herein byreference.

Each of thewalls 28 of the chassis component includes four openings 40,41, 42 and 43, shown in FIG. 2, opposed pairs of which are aligned toreceive and support heating element components preferably of 400 wattrating each as generally shown in FIG. 7 at '44. Each heating elementcomponent cornprises a cylindrical glass tube 45, preferably made ofVycor, a trademark of Coming Glass Works, and an element wire 46,preferably of the type known as Kanthal .D, a trademark of the KanthalCorporation, which is received within the tube'45 and is secured tocontact rivets 47 at both ends of the tube. The rivets47 are retained inplace by caps 48 which have axiallyextending, inwardly spring biasedfingers with flared ends to provide ease of assembly and secure contactbetween the caps and tube.

Each end panel 3, 4 has in alignment with a respective opening 40-43socket means 49 for receiving and supporting the ends'of the elementcomponents 44 in opposition. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3, the left end panel4 has socket means 49, each with" a contact rivet 50 securing it to aflexible, electrically conductive support'Sl fixedly held tofan anchor52 integral with the panel 4. Each of the socket means 49 aligned withthe openings 40-43 in the left end wall 28 of the chassis component 2 isintended to be flexibly supported as at 51 for spring loading of theheating element components 44, as described more particularlyhereinafter.

The right end panel component 3 includes four socket means '49 of thesame constr ction as the socket means within thelleft end panel .4 butwhich are secured by a rigid, electrically conductivesupport 53 tothe-anchor 54 of the panel 3. Each of the rigidly supported socket means49 with its contact rivet supports and receives one of the ends ofrespective heating element components and, with the flexibility ofsupport 51 in. the end panel 4, permits constant, biased contact of therespective pairs of adjacent contact rivets 47 and 50.

Thus, for .replacement of any of the heating element components whichmay be defective, the user needs merelyto unlatch the right end panelcomponent 3 as, e.g., is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,483,814, and removethe defective component 44 by grasping its exposed cap 48 which extendsbeyond the end wall 28. Replacement of the heating element component 44is accomplished by merely reversing the steps previously mentioned,i.e., by inserting either end of the component through respective pairsof opposed, aligned openings 41-43 in the end walls 28 preferably untilthe inserted contact rivet 47 is received within socket means 49 of thepanel 4. The right end panel component 3 is then latched into positionwith the exposed, extending ends of the components 44 received withinrespective socket'means 49 of the panel 3. Because the socket means 49of the panel 3 are rigidly supported, the components 44 once receivedtherein are forced into contact at their other ends with the socketmeansand contact rivets 49,

50 in. the left panel 4. The free distance between opposed,

aligned pairs of contact rivets 50 when both end panels 3, 4 are inposition without the heating element components therein is intended tobe less than the overall length of the components 44. Thus, uponinsertion of the heating element components and latching of the endpanel 3, the supports 51 of the socket means in the left end panel 4 areflexed to urge the contact rivets 47, 50 of the components 44 and socketmeans 49 into firm engagement.

The supports 51 and 53 in combination with a conventional bussing systemand other electrical elements, shown schematically in FIG. 6, not onlyassist in providing'the ready release of the heating element componentsand firm engagement'of abutting contact rivets, but also assist ineffectuating operation of the toast and oven modes. in the commonheating chamber. The heating chamber is defined by'the inner reflectingsurfaces ofthe walls 7, ll, 12, 13, 14, 1 5,-end walls 28, and bottomwall 32 (or a crumb tray, not shown, which may be supported by wall 32in coextensive relationship therewith). Thus, with the reflectingsurfaces substantially as defined and the carriage means 22 and heatingelement components located substantially as shown, the desiredproportion of direct heat and reflected heat is received by food'toastedin the vertical toast position. However, the same proportion is notnecessarily desirable for the horizontal oven position because of thedifferent relationship of food surfaces to reflecting surfaces andheating element surfaces which exists and which may result in'an unevenheat distribution. It has been found that an effective solutionto theheat distribution problem is to utilize the full wattage of each of thecomponents in the vertical toast position but only the full wattage ofthe upper pair and one-half the wattage of the lower pair (within theopenings 42 and 43) of components 44 in the horizontal oven position. Ii 7 Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of the electricalcircuitry is shown. The circuit comprises a power supply Ll governed bythe on-off line switch 55 actuated by either placing the food carriagein vertical toast position or placing the control 6 in oven on position.In accordance with the teachings of U. S. Pat. No. 3,483,814, it ispreferredthat the power supply be connected to theterminal'elements ofthe toaster-oven so that it becomes a necessity to disconnect thetoaster-oven from the power supply before the right endpanel component 3may be removed. v

The pairs of upper and lower components 44 are maintained in parallelrelationship with secondary switch means generally designated at 56cuttingiin or out of the circuit a thermostat and diode 59 shunt to theoutput line voltage, L2. Switch means 56 is biased closed to providefull wattage in the toasting mode and to override the possible openingof thermostat 60and is actuated from bias closed position to openposition when the carriage support 22 rises to itsupp ermost position.The toasting mode is terminated by the thermostat release switchgenerally designated at 57 which is closed only when 'pusher 23 biasescontact 24 into closed position under bimetallic response to toastingtemperature. The closing of switch 57energizesthe coil 58 tounlatch thebread carriage from hold position in the toasting mode as is more fullydescribed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,951,432.

When the oven mode is desired, the control 6 is moved to oven onposition which closes the line switch 55. Switch 56 is open by virtue ofthe carriage 22 being in its uppermost position. Thus, the diode, ofconventional design and generally designated at 59, (or a number ofparallel diodes depending on the desired current characteristic) becomeseffective within the circuit during the oven mode of operation andreduces the power across the lower pair of components 44 by one-half tothereby give rise to the proper proportion of direct heat and reflectedheat on the exposed surfaces of the food supported by the grill-onsupports 31- Initially, the oven thermostat switch means generallydesignated at 60 is closed but intermittently it opens when the desiredtemperature in the heating chamber is reached to control same.

Thus, a relative positioning of the heating element components, carriagemeans and reflecting surfaces has been shown which efficientlyaccommodates toasting in a vertical position or cooking in a horizontalposition without the necessity of relatively moving the heating elementcomponents or reflecting surfaces. This relationship is most effectivewhen it is utilized in conjunction with a modulation in the power inputto the lower pair of heating element components in the oven mode. Inaddition, a unique toasting thermostat venting fea ture and removableheating element'components have been shown. It should be noted thatfailure of a food heating appliance often occurs at its heating elementsand, therefore, an appliance which may be readily serviced to replacethese elements without the need of repair shop service (by merelydisconnecting the power supply cord, removing the right end anel andthen replacing the heating element component which has failed) is a realbenefit to the user.

As an example of the relative positioning of the heating elementcomponents with respect to the reflecting surfaces of the heatingchamber and the food carriage means, it should be noted, as seen in FIG.2, that the bottom pair of elements 44 are positioned below thehorizontal food carriage means and support surface 31 and adjacent thebottom wall 32 whereas the upper elements 44 are both located in theupper half of the heating chamber with the front element (received inaligned openings 40) more proximate to the center line of the heightdimension of the heating chamber. This positioning of the component 44received in aligned openings 40 compensates forthe angular relationshipof the reflecting surfaces 12-15 with respect to the vertical; Inaddition, the vertical food carriage means in toasting position islocated more proximate to the front of the toaster-oven than the rear.

Since the preferred embodiment may be modified in numerous ways withinthe scope of the present inventions as, e.g., by changing materialswhich may alter reflectivity of heat, by changing the ratings of theheating element components or making the upper pair and/or lower pair acontinuous single element component, et cetera, the preferred embodimentshould be viewed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

l. A toaster-oven comprising a heating chamber having vertically movablefood carriage means and horizontally movable food carriage means, saidchamber in operation being a food containing compartment common to bothfood carriage means and including heating element means electricallyconnectible to a power supply and commonly operative for both foodcarriage means, at least part of said heating element means beingpositioned on opposite sides of said vertically movable carriage meansand extending substantially parallel with respect thereto above saidhorizontally movable carriage means, at least part of said heatingelement means being positioned below said horizontally movable carriagemeans and extending substantially parallel with respect thereto onopposite sidesof said vertically movable carriage means, and saidchamber being defined by aplurality of reflecting sur faces wherebyfoodsupported by said vertically movable carriage means may beeffectively, uniformly heated without relative movement of said heatingelement means and said reflecting surfaces.

2. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 1 wherein said first mentionedpart of said heating element means extends substantially parallel to thehorizontally movable carriage means in the upper one-half of saidchamber and said second-mentioned part of said heating element meansextends substantially parallel to said vertically movable carriage meansin the lower half of the heating chamber.

.3. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality ofreflecting surfaces include upper and lower substantially horizontalsurfaces, a substantially vertical rear surface joining said upper andlower surfaces, and forward surface means joining said upper and lowersurfaces, said forward surface means comprising a plurality of surfacesat least one of which is at an angle to the vertical.

4. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 3 wherein said surface at anangle to the vertical is an access door to the horizontally movablecarriage means, said door having window means therein.

5. A toaster-oven comprising a heating chamber having vertically movablefood carriage means and horizontally movable food carriage means, saidchamber including heating element means electrically connectible to apower supply, at least part of said heating element means beingpositioned on opposite sides of said vertically movable carriage meansand extending substantially parallel with respect thereto above saidhorizontally movable carriage means, at least part of said heatingelement means being positioned below said horizontally movable carriagemeans and extending substantially parallel with respect thereto onopposite sides of said vertically movable carriage means, and saidchamber being defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces whereby foodsupported by said vertically movable carriage means may be effectively,uniformly heated without relative movement of said heating element meansand said reflecting surfaces, said toaster-oven further comprising aplurality of releasable components including a chassis component, an endpanel component, and said heating element means, said heating elementmeans comprising at least four heating elements, saidchassis componentcomprising said plurality of reflecting surfaces and defining saidheating chamber, said chassis component being joined at one of its endsto said end pane] component by releasable securing means, said chassiscomponent atits other end including first electrical circuit means, saidend panel component including second electrical circuit means and eachof said heating elements having one end in electrical contact with thesaid first electrical means and its other end in electrical contact withsaid second electrical means when said end panel component is secured tosaid chassis component;

6. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 5 wherein said first electricalcircuit means includes at least four first socket means each having anelectrical contact therein and being positioned by a flexible,electrically conductive support, and said second electrical meansincludes at least four second socket means in opposition to said firstsocket means each having an electrical contact therein and beingpositioned by a rigid, electrically conductive support.

7. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 6 wherein the length of each ofsaid heating elements is greater than the normal distance betweenopposed ones of said first and second socket means so that the opposedcontacts of said socket means are firmly urged against the ends of saidheating elements.

8. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said heatingelements comprises a cylindrical glass tube having electrical contactsat its end and resistance wire extending axially therein and secured tosaid contacts.

9. A toaster-oven comprising a heating chamber having vertically movablefood carriage means and horizontally movable food carriage means, saidchamber including heating element means electrically connectible to apower supply, at least part of said heating element means beingpositioned on opposite sides of said vertically movable carriage meansand extending substantially parallel with respect thereto above saidhorizontally movable carriage means, at least part of said heatingelement means being positioned below said horizontally movable carriagemeans and extending substantially parallel with respect thereto onopposite sides of said vertically movable carriage means, and saidchamber being defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces whereby foodsupported by said vertically movable carriage means may be effectively,uniformly heated without relative movement of said heating element meansand said reflecting surfaces, said chamber further including athermostat assembly having a bimetallic element, and at least one ofsaid reflecting surfaces has an opening therein and means normallybiased open closing said opening in operation so that a cool air flowpattern may act on said thermostat assembly subsequent to eachoperation.

10. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 1 further comprising electricalcircuit means permitting full wattage in said first and saidsecond-mentioned parts of said heating element means when saidvertically movable food carriage means is operative and permitting fullwattage in only the first-mentioned part of said heating element meanswhen said horizontally movable food carriage means is operative.

1. A toaster-oven comprising a heating chamber having vertically movablefood carriage means and horizontally movable food carriage means, saidchamber in operation being a food containing compartment common to bothfood carriage means and including heating element means electricallyconnectible to a power supply and commonly operative for both foodcarriage means, at least part of said heating element means beingpositioned on opposite sides of said vertically movable carriage meansand extending substantially parallel with respect thereto above saidhorizontally movable carriage means, at least part of said heatingelement means being positioned below said horizontally movable carriagemeans and extending substantially parallel with respect thereto onopposite sides of said vertically movable carriage means, and saidchamber being defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces whereby foodsupported by said vertically movable carriage means may be effectively,uniformly heated without relative movement of said heating element meansand said reflecting surfaces.
 2. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 1wherein said first mentioned part of said heating element means extendssubstantially parallel to the horizontally movable carriage means in theupper one-half of said chamber and said second-mentioned part of saidheating element means extends substantially parallel to said verticallymovable carriage means in the lower half of the heating chamber.
 3. Thetoaster-oven set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of reflectingsurfaces include upper and lower substantially horizontal surfaces, asubstantially vertical rear surface joining said upper and lowersurfaces, and forward surface means joining said upper and lowersurfaces, said forward surface means comprising a plurality of surfacesat least one of which is at an angle to the vertical.
 4. Thetoaster-oven set forth in claim 3 wherein said surface at an angle tothe vertical is an access door to the horizontally movable carriagemeans, said door having window means therein.
 5. A toaster-ovencomprising a heating chamber having vertically movable food carriagemeans and horizontally movable food carriage means, said chamberincluding heating element means electrically connectible to a powersupply, at least part of said heating element means being positioned onopposite sides of said vertically movable carriage means and extendingsubstantially parallel with respect thereto above said horizontallymovable carriage means, at least part of said heating element meansbeing positioned below said horizontally movable carriage means andextending substantially parallel with respect thereto on opposite sidesof said vertically movable carriage means, and said chamber beingdefined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces whereby food supported bysaid vertically movable carriage means may be effectively, uniformlyheated without relative movement of said heating element means and saidreflecting surfaces, said toaster-oven further comprising a plurality ofreleasable components including a chassis component, an end panelcomponent, and said heating element means, said heating element meanscomprising at least four heating elements, said chassis componentcomprising said plurality of reflecting surfaces and defining saidheating chamber, said chassis component being joined at one of its endsto said end panel component by releasable securing means, said chassiscomponent at its other end including first electrical circuit means,said end panel component including second electrical circuit means andeach of said heating elements having one end in electrical contact withthe said first electrical means and its other end in electrical contactwith said second Electrical means when said end panel component issecured to said chassis component.
 6. The toaster-oven set forth inclaim 5 wherein said first electrical circuit means includes at leastfour first socket means each having an electrical contact therein andbeing positioned by a flexible, electrically conductive support, andsaid second electrical means includes at least four second socket meansin opposition to said first socket means each having an electricalcontact therein and being positioned by a rigid, electrically conductivesupport.
 7. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 6 wherein the length ofeach of said heating elements is greater than the normal distancebetween opposed ones of said first and second socket means so that theopposed contacts of said socket means are firmly urged against the endsof said heating elements.
 8. The toaster-oven set forth in claim 7wherein each of said heating elements comprises a cylindrical glass tubehaving electrical contacts at its end and resistance wire extendingaxially therein and secured to said contacts.
 9. A toaster-ovencomprising a heating chamber having vertically movable food carriagemeans and horizontally movable food carriage means, said chamberincluding heating element means electrically connectible to a powersupply, at least part of said heating element means being positioned onopposite sides of said vertically movable carriage means and extendingsubstantially parallel with respect thereto above said horizontallymovable carriage means, at least part of said heating element meansbeing positioned below said horizontally movable carriage means andextending substantially parallel with respect thereto on opposite sidesof said vertically movable carriage means, and said chamber beingdefined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces whereby food supported bysaid vertically movable carriage means may be effectively, uniformlyheated without relative movement of said heating element means and saidreflecting surfaces, said chamber further including a thermostatassembly having a bimetallic element, and at least one of saidreflecting surfaces has an opening therein and means normally biasedopen closing said opening in operation so that a cool air flow patternmay act on said thermostat assembly subsequent to each operation. 10.The toaster-oven set forth in claim 1 further comprising electricalcircuit means permitting full wattage in said first and saidsecond-mentioned parts of said heating element means when saidvertically movable food carriage means is operative and permitting fullwattage in only the first-mentioned part of said heating element meanswhen said horizontally movable food carriage means is operative.